Tropical Cyclone Mekunu - May 2018

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A new tropical storm has developed in the southwest Arabian Sea where it intensified yesterday evening into Cyclone Mekunu. The cyclone is moving currently north-northwest at a speed of 11 km/h. Mekunu is expected to continue moving in this direction during the remainder of this week and make landfall near Salalah, Oman on about Saturday 26 May. A major fluctuation in tropical weather over the southern Arabian Sea known as the Madden-Julian oscillation (MJO) is likely to cause Mekunu to strengthen further. As a result, heavy rains are forecasted for Socotra Island, followed by the southern Arabian coast from Sayhut in eastern Yemen to Salalah and Ash Shuwaymiyyah in southern Oman, which could cause local flooding and damage. (FAO, 23 May 2018)

The impact of cyclone ‘Mekunu’ on Yemen’s eastern mainland, after it had made landfall in the Sultanate of Oman on 26 May, has been limited. Minor damage has been reported to infrastructure in the districts of Hawf and Shahan of Al Maharah Governorate. Two ships reportedly sank in Al Gaydah and the cycolone damaged agricultural equipment. Meanwhile, assessments and relief efforts continue on the island of Socotra. On 27 May, [IFRC] reported that seven people have died and eight are still missing due to the cyclone...Local authorities and the Displacement Tracking Team led by the International Organization for Migration (DTM/IOM) have reported a total of 507 families being displaced in Hadibo and Qalansiyah. Communities living in Badahola have evacuated their areas as reportedly they have been surrounded by flood water. The majority of the affected population (90 per cent) are hosted in schools, with the rest staying in other government buildings...An inter-cluster assessment team is expected to travel to Socotra on 29 May with the support of UNHAS. (OCHA, 28 May 2018)

An inter-cluster mission led by OCHA visited Socotra from 29 May to 4 June to assess humanitarian needs in the aftermath of cyclone “Mekunu”.
Steroh, Badhola and Zahiq, in the area of Nowgd (located on the southern part of the island) are the locations most affected by the cyclone which the team was able to visit. It is estimated that in these areas 90 per cent of the population are in urgent need of food, non-food items and WASH assistance.
Local authorities have warned of an imminent hunger crisis, if no resources are mobilized, as approximately 90 per cent of the population in the assessed areas lost their food stocks to the cyclone and are unable to sustain themselves. (OCHA, 07 Jun 2018)